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Hyde Park Arts Initiative E-Newsletter

December 2006

In This Issue
> HPAI Event Calendar
> The O'Dwyer School of Irish Dancing
> Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
> Announcements

Welcome to the Hyde Park Arts Initiative Newsletter; your source for information about arts and business in Hyde Park. The holiday season is here, which is quite evident when you look around the newly cleaned up Cleary Square (thank you Coulter Landscaping!) and see all the wonderful decorations courtesy of the Anderson Tree Lighting Committee. This month be sure to see Oliver! at the Riverside Theatre, or check out the ongoing Art Exihibit at 26 Central Ave-it's free to the public and open everyday! Enjoy the Arts in Hyde Park!

HPAI Event Calendar
The updated HPAI website,including a resource list for artists and links to our business partners and supporters in the community will go live mid-December. Our first print calendar of events will be available in December as well, so be sure to keep your eyes open for it as you travel around Hyde Park. In the meantime, be sure to check out our listing of events at the end of this newlsetter to find out what's going on culturally in your community this month! If you know of a local arts event you would like included in the calendar, please contact Betsy at (617) 364-7300 or betsyhpai@swbcdc.org

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The O'Dwyer School of Irish Dancing

O'Dwyer School of Irish Dancing

Helen O’Dwyer was searching for a place to open up her first dance school, and happened across the HPAI website. One phone call was all it took for Helen to connect with the organization that helped her locate studio space on Fairmount Ave., have a first performance for her students (Artscene) and connect with other performing arts groups in Hyde Park. The O’Dwyer School of Irish Dancing opened in July at 49 Fairmount Ave. next to the Riverside Theatre and The Dance Academy, transforming this block into a real performing arts enclave, and Helen could not be happier at all the support she has received.

The O’Dwyer School of Irish Dancing started with 40 students, and since opening in Hyde Park has gained another 40. Helen attributes this growth to the great space and location, “There is something going on here all the time between the Riverside Theatre and The Dance Academy. We have grown so quickly because of the neighborhood and all the support we have received.” The goals of the school are “To create a positive environment, to provide dancers with an opportunity to share in the history of Irish heritage, culture and dance, as well as the laughter and positive experiences of friendship, confidence and memories that are built along the way.” A student of Irish Dancing since she was four years old, Helen stopped competing four years ago so that she could become certified to teach (a requirement of The An Coimisiun Le Rinci Gaelacha, a commission in Ireland that oversees standards and runs competitions for Irish Dancing). Working as an insurance broker by day, Helen teaches 3-4 days a week including Saturdays, and feels so lucky that she is able to continue to do something that she loves so much.

The O’Dwyer School has students as young as 4 all the way up to students in their 50’s. Students are not required to compete, but there are a number who do, in regular events called Feiseannas, and they have already won the O’Dwyer School its first regional title. Helen is also pleased that so many opportunities to perform locally outside of competitions have arisen including the Artscene Festival, the Roslindale Parade, and the Anderson Tree Lighting event. Anyone interested in learning more about Irish dancing and the O’Dwyer School should call 508-269-1051, or check out the website, www.odwyerschool.com.

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Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation

Southwest Boston Community Development Corp.-Hyde Park

 

Community Development Corporations, or CDC’s as they are commonly referred to, are characterized as being community based organizations generally formed by residents, small business owners and other local stakeholders to help low and moderate income communities create and preserve affordable housing and jobs. While there is no national entity that certifies CDC’s, Massachusetts is one of a handful of states that does have certain requirements in order for CDC’s to receive state funding. Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation (SWBCDC) was conceived 5 years ago literally at a kitchen table meeting by a dedicated group of individuals looking for a way to strengthen their community. Their mission, they determined, was to “Develop and preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate- income people; preserve existing affordable rental housing; and strengthen the commercial base of the neighborhoods."

The SWBCDC held an event in October at the Hyde Park Branch Library to commemorate their 5th anniversary and their achievements thus far, which include; a 22 unit homeownership development in Roslindale, assisting local residents in their efforts to preserve affordable rental units, advocating for public transportation improvements on the Fairmount/Indigo line, voter education and outreach, community emergency preparedness training, monitoring the Lewis Chemical assessment process, and supporting the Hyde Park Arts Initiative by providing office space and fiscal oversight. Future goals include a home repair program, new housing development and formulating a vision for the Lewis Chemical sight.

The SWBCDC is overseen by executive director John Mahony, assistant director Pat Alvarez, community organizer Magalis Troncoso and office manager Heather MacMaster, along with two interns that join the staff from BU each fall. John has been the executive director for 2 years, and has devoted 20 years of his career to CDC’s in general driven by his concern over the lack of affordable housing and economic opportunity. His main concern now has to do with expiring use buildings-those whose affordability mandate is set to expire soon, allowing landlords to charge market rents. According to John, “The expiring use issue does not get a lot of attention, but is crucial for the preservation of affordable housing in Hyde Park and Roslindale, and it is one of the issues we are working on in the community.” Pat, one of the founding members of the SWBCDC, feels so lucky to be able to live and work in her community, and through her efforts with the CDC, make a difference in the quality of people’s lives in Hyde Park. Pat hopes that the CDC can serve as a vehicle to “Find a common ground to unite all of the Hyde Park community,” especially as it continues to become more diverse.

For more information about the SWBCDC, call (617) 364-7300 or log onto their website, www.swbcdc.org

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Announcements

Teen Poetry Slam! Thursday December 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Hyde Park Library. 14-18 year olds are encouraged to share a poem or come and listen-prizes will be awarded! (617) 361-2524 for more info. Also-a reminder that the Hyde Park Library offers free museum passes (reserve in advance with a library card) for most of the major Boston museums, including the Children's Museum, Aquarium, Science Museum and MFA!

Artist-at-Large presents The Music Workshop, Mondays at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 15 Dana Ave. starting at 8 p.m. come to listen or play. (617) 276-3223 for more info.

Art Exhibit at 26 Central st. (the White Building). Come view the work of local artists daily between 9-5 through March 1. Artist Reception will be held Friday Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m.

Oliver! Riverside Theatre Works presents this classic tale, Dec.1-Dec. 10 call (617) 361-7024 for tickets or more information. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Dec. 22, 3 p.m. performed by the Hampstead Players for school age children at the Hyde Park Library. (617) 361-2524 for more information.

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